Photos from a playoff game against the Washington Mystics at the CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. (Casey Sykes for the Atlanta Dream)
WASHINGTON — The Atlanta Dream is moving on.
With a 13-0 fourth-quarter run that turned a tight game into a comfortable one, the Dream beat the Washington Mystics 93-75 on Wednesday at CareFirst Arena to complete a sweep of their best-of-three first-round series. It is Atlanta’s first playoff series win since 2016 and sends the Dream to the semifinals for the first time since 2018.
The Dream did it the hard way. Atlanta was outrebounded 42-27, shot just 34.4% in the first half, and had three starters in foul trouble at various points. None of it mattered by the end.
“All we cared about was winning and advancing,” Head Coach Karl Smesko said, noting that everyone on the roster contributed.
Balanced Attack, Led by Gray
Five Dream players scored in double figures. Allisha Gray led the way with 22 points, while Jordin Canada was the engine in the closing minutes, scoring 13 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter and adding 11 assists. Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese each finished with 15, and Naz Hillmon added 10.
Gray credited Canada for steadying the team, calling her the group’s engine and praising the big baskets she delivered when Atlanta needed them most.
Defense Travels
Even when the shots weren’t falling, the defense held. Washington committed 19 turnovers, which Atlanta turned into 23 points. In the first half alone, 11 Mystics turnovers produced 15 Dream points, helping Atlanta build a 13-point lead before a late Washington run cut it to 41-35 at the break.
Surviving the Foul Trouble
The game turned on how Atlanta handled the whistle. Reese picked up her third foul with 8:30 left in the third quarter and her fourth less than three minutes later. Canada went to the bench with her fourth at 3:53 of the period while the Dream led by 10. Howard was whistled for her fourth with 44 seconds left in the third and her fifth on Washington’s first possession of the fourth.
The Mystics tried to take advantage, attacking the paint and trimming the lead to as few as three after a pair of offensive rebounds. Atlanta adjusted, spacing the floor, with Howard attacking the rim during a 5-0 run in the third that pushed the lead to 15. The Dream held a 65-58 advantage heading into the fourth despite a late 10-2 Washington push.
The Closing Run
This is where Atlanta separated. Reese scored on a layup and later hit two free throws, Hillmon scored four straight, Howard knocked down a long jumper, and Canada capped the sequence with a 3-pointer to make it a 16-point game with 6:42 to play.
Just as important was what didn’t happen: Atlanta didn’t panic. Canada pointed to the team’s focus on closing out games, a contrast to last season, when big leads had a way of disappearing.
What’s Next
The Dream now turns to the New York Liberty in a best-of-five semifinal series beginning Sunday at State Farm Arena. Atlanta will host Games 1, 2 and, if necessary, Game 5.
Tickets for Games 1 and 2 are on sale now at atlantadream.com.
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